|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| According to the Bible, Jehoiachin became king of Judah after the death of his father King Jehoiakim: |
| "Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days." 2 Chronicles 36:9 |
| A fantastic discovery that verifies biblical events surrounding Jehoiachin's life was found in the ancient city of Babylon. |
| Tablets from the royal archives of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon were unearthed in the ruins of that ancient city that contain food rations paid to captives and craftsmen who lived in and around the city. On one of the tablets, "Yaukin, king of the land of Judah" is mentioned along with his five sons listed as royal princes. Below are a few inscriptions found on other such tablets: |
| 10 (sila of oil) to the king of Judah, Yaukin. |
| 2 1/2 sila (oil) to the offspring of Judah’s king, |
| 4 sila to eight Judean men. |
|
| Another tablet reads: |
| 1 1/2 sila (oil) for three wood workers from Arvad, 1/2 sila each, |
| 11 1/2 sila for eight wood workers from Byblos, . . . |
| 3 1/2 sila for seven Greek craftsman, 1/2 sila apiece, |
| 1/2 sila to the carpenter, Nabuetir |
| 10 sila to Ia-ku-u-ki-nu, the king of Judah’s son, |
| 2 1/2 sila for the five sons of the Judean king |
| This evidence matches precisely with the Biblical text found in II Kings 24:10-17 which says: "At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. |
| And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, as his servants were besieging it. Then Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his princes, and his officers went out to the king of Babylon; and the king of Babylon, in the eighth year of his reign, took him prisoner. |
| And he carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's house, and he cut in pieces all the articles of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said. Also he carried into captivity all Jerusalem: all the captains and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| None remained except the poorest people of the land. And he carried Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. The king's mother, the king's wives, his officers, and the mighty of the land he carried into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. All the valiant men, seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths, one thousand, all who were strong and fit for war, these the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon. Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah." |
| According to the same cuneiform tablets that mention food rations to Jehoiachin, rations are also mentioned as going to the King of Ascalon in the land of the Philistines and also to many craftsman from various other countries, this matches the Biblical text. |
| These tablets also indicate that Jehoiachin received twenty times as much food rations as others on the list which indicates that the Babylonians treated him more valuable then other captive kings on the list. |
| Archaeology thus indicates that Jehoiachin was treated well by the kings of Babylon whom provided daily food rations for him. This corresponds with the scripture found in 2 Kings chapter 25 verses 27-30: |
| "Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. ' |
| He spoke kindly to him, and gave him a more prominent seat than those of the kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin changed from his prison garments, and he ate bread regularly before the king all the days of his life. |
| And as for his provisions, there was a regular ration given him by the king, a portion for each day, all the days of his life." |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| THE GREATEST LESSON TO BE LEARNED FROM THE LIFE OF KING JEHOIACHIN: |
| |
| "Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD." |
| 2 Chronicles 36:9 |
| |
| Do not do evil in the Lord's sight |
| Lest you become captive to sin |
| And GOD removes your crown |
| As he did with Jehoiachin |
| Because he did not trust in the Lord. |
| |
| A LESSON ABOUT EVILDOERS: |
| |
| Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of sin. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,...Trust in the LORD, and do good; ..... Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. |
| Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in him, And he shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. |
| Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who succeeds in his way, Because they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn away from wrath; Do not fret; it only leads to evil. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. |
| The wicked plot against the righteous, and gnash their teeth at them. But the Lord laughs at the wicked,For He knows their day is coming." Psalm 37:1-13 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| This article is a chapter from our 3 volume book series "Bible Believer's Archaeology" which can be downloaded for your ebook reader or mobile device by visiting our resource download page by Clicking Here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Photo Links to Artifacts Mentioned in this Article |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Jehoiachin |
| Rations |
| VAT 16378 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sources: |
| |
| Evidence that Demands A Verdict Vol.II, Author: Josh McDowell |
| ISBN 0-8407-4379-3 |
| Pg.348 (Jehoiachin mentioned in Babylonian records) |
| |
| The Ancient Near East, An Anthology of Texts and Pictures, Edited by James B Pritchard Pg.205 (The actual text in full mentioning Jehoiachin taken from grain ration tablet.) |
|
| The Bible as History in Pictures, Werner Keller pg.285-287 |
| VAT 16378 = 28186 ANET 308 Ration List |
| VAT 16283 = 28178 ANET 308 Ration List |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|